Four Japanese lawmakers have nominated ethnic Mongolian political prisoner Hada for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his continuing advocacy for his people living under Chinese Communist Party rule despite years of persecution.
Hada, who goes by one name, has been jailed or under house arrest in China since 1995 for his advocacy work for ethnic Mongolians in China. He is the co-founder of the campaign group the Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance, which seeks the self-determination of China’s northern region of Inner Mongolia.
The nomination came from four members of Japan’s parliament, or Diet, representing both ruling and opposition parties, the New York-based Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center said in a statement on its website.
Hada “has dedicated his life to protecting the rights of Mongolians” living in China, the group said.
“Over the past 30 years, he has endured relentless persecution, including an unjust arrest in 1995, a 15-year prison sentence, an additional four years of incarceration, and 11 years of house arrest,” it said.
“Despite these severe hardships, Mr. Hada has continued to advocate peacefully for his people’s rights.”
The Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance was set up to “oppose colonization by the Han Chinese people and to strive for self-determination, freedom and democracy in Southern [Inner] Mongolia,” according to its now-banned newspaper, the Voice of Southern Mongolia.
Phasing out Mongolian
Ethnic Mongolians, who make up almost 20 percent of Inner Mongolia’s population of 23 million, increasingly complain of widespread environmental destruction and unfair development policies in the region.
The authorities have also phased out the Mongolian language in favor of Mandarin as a medium of instruction in schools — a policy that sparked mass protests by parents and students followed by a regionwide crackdown when it was first announced in September 2020.
Clashes between Chinese state-backed mining or forestry companies and herding communities have been common in the region, which borders the independent country of Mongolia.
Hada has described the routine evictions of herders from their traditional grazing lands, often in the name of ecological protection, as part of a calculated program of “ethnic cleansing” in the region.
The Nobel Peace Prize nomination was made by lawmakers Hiroshi Yamada, a member of the House of Councillors and Yoichi Shimada, a member of the House of Representatives.
Two other National Diet members also supported the nomination but requested anonymity, the Information Center said, adding that the Norwegian Nobel Committee has acknowledged the nomination.
“We welcome this move and extend our heartfelt thanks to the four Japanese parliament members ... for recognizing Mr. Hada’s lifelong commitment to the rights of six million Southern Mongolians,” Center Director Engehbatu Togochog said in a statement.
“Despite decades of unjust imprisonment and continued house arrest in a secret facility overseen by Chinese authorities, Mr. Hada remains an indomitable figure in the fight for freedom and human rights,” the group said, describing him as a “symbol of hope” for millions of Mongolians.
RELATED STORIES
Security Tightens Around Home of Ethnic Mongolian Dissident Hada
China bans Mongolian-medium classes, cuts language hours in schools
China recruits Mandarin-speaking teachers to move to Inner Mongolia
Hada, who was incarcerated for 19 years for his activism on behalf of ethnic Mongolian herding communities, remains under house arrest in the regional capital Hohhot.
His wife Xinna has also helped an unknown number of ethnic Mongolian herders petition the authorities and find lawyers to fight their claims to their traditional grazing lands that are increasingly being taken over by Han Chinese migrants or state-owned companies.
Hada was released from extrajudicial detention in December 2014, four years after his 15-year jail term for “separatism” and “espionage” ended, but has remained under close police surveillance and numerous restrictions, including a travel ban and frozen bank accounts.
Hada has taken issue with his alleged “confession,” to the charges, saying that it was obtained under torture and after being given unidentified drugs.
He has also said he expects to stay locked up for as long as the ruling Chinese Communist Party remains in power.
Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.